Diversity and Inclusion has always meant Empowerment to me and empowerment to me means the Right to Make a Choice! It’s my life and I should get to make choices that feel right to me. I have had the good fortune to be surrounded by some inspiring people at home and at work and I do believe they have all played a role in the choices I have made. So, in effect – they were Role Models, some unknowingly! Role Models is not about gender, but at the same time I have always believed as women we need women role models in all dimensions of life just to witness possibilities and have no perceived limitations. Over the years, more and more I have associated Role Models to be people who demonstrate a certain behaviour that I am attracted too, and yes maybe aspire to be like. I do believe we all need role models, in some way it translates to leading by example as well and it may not be big and profound in your eyes, but for someone else it could be 
Today, I am in my 50’s, I grew up thinking you go to school (no further education), you get married and you live happily ever after! Well, that didn’t happen, I have witnessed many first’s for women and I have lived many first’s as well, but still it is something we need to keep talking about and never shy away from and definitely not come under any illusion that we have solved it. Half of the human population on our planet are women and even today we still have a long way to go when it comes to a gender balanced representation in the family, in the society and in the corporate world. So, everyday when we make a choice, we should celebrate –
- A girl that leaves a small village in Kashmir, and moves to Srinagar because she wants to study! A first for the village and how may more girls will dream!
- A woman that becomes a pilot, even an Air Force pilot, how many will now even think about it and maybe follow! I still remember the first time I heard a woman was the captain of the flight, it made me smile!
- A woman that decides to take a career break when she has a child and then comes back to work when she is ready, yes it’s possible! Or maybe doesn’t come back to work and that’s ok too!
- A woman that doesn’t get married just because of social norms and pursues dreams. Can someone be single and happy? Yes!
- A woman who leaves the UK to live in India as it was her dream to live and work in India. Yes this happens too, and not only the UK, women from UK, US, Sweden and even Chile!
- A woman that becomes the first ‘X’ level in any company, will for sure make others believe!
Do you believe you are a Role Model ? Do you have a Role Model ? Do you need a Role Model ? What do you think is a Role Model? In a country where hero worship is so embedded into our psyche, does a Role Model have to be larger than life ? A big name? A big personality? A big something? Big or small, we are all role models, knowingly or unknowingly, so keep doing what you’re doing, keep pushing boundaries, keep making choices! Each choice you make, can create a ripple and who knows what that can lead to.
Finally, if you believe you have any role models, maybe tell them today? You may just make them smile! And if someone comes to you and says they see you as a Role Model, maybe you can ask them why and maybe that will make you smile! Change the Unknowing into a Knowing.
Jaxa Gohil
Consultant Leadership Diversity and Inclusion